Systems for enhancing boardroom tables to include USB Type-C power and connectivity functionality

ABSTRACT

Boardroom table systems are provided that include a plurality of USB Type-C receptacles that can provide power and/or data transfer functionality to one or more devices attached thereto. Power transferred by the boardroom table system may be managed by USB Power Delivery, and may come from a source of wall power, or from a device coupled to one of the USB Type-C receptacles. Data transferred by the boardroom table system may include USB data, Ethernet data, video data, and/or any other type of data transmittable via a USB Type-C receptacle. In some embodiments, boardroom table systems also include presentation devices. In such embodiments, a device coupled to a USB Type-C receptacle could both transmit or receive power, exchange data, and transmit video to the presentation device via the same USB Type-C receptacle of the boardroom table system, thus eliminating the need for multiple sockets and cables.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/237155,filed Aug. 15, 2016, which claims the benefit of Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/205538, filed Aug. 14, 2015, the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Many varieties of tables exist that include technology features. Suchtables, often called boardroom tables or conference tables, sometimeshave integrated power systems that allow users sitting at the table tocharge a device such as a laptop computer (or other device) by pluggingit in to a socket in the table. These sockets allow devices to becharged at the table, instead of having to plug the devices into thewall. Boardroom tables sometimes also have video cables that allow avideo output of a laptop computer to be connected to a presentationsystem such as a monitor, a projector, and/or the like.

While supplying power sockets to devices and allowing a single device tobe connected to a presentation system are useful, current systems arelimited in that only traditional power sockets (such as two-prongoutlets and USB Type-A receptacles) are provided. What is desired aremore flexible systems that provide not only power but alsoreconfigurable data communication via integrated receptacles of aboardroom table.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In some embodiments, a table having an integrated communication andpower system is provided. The system comprises a plurality of USB Type-Cports; a video interface; and a switching device. The switching deviceselectively couples one USB Type-C port of the plurality of USB Type-Cports to the video interface.

In some embodiments, communication and power system for integration witha table is provided. The system comprises a plurality of USB Type-Cports and an extension control device. Each USB Type-C port isassociated with an extension device of a plurality of extension devices.An extension medium is coupled to the extension devices. The extensioncontrol device is configured to transmit an instruction to a firstextension device of the plurality of extension devices to operate as anupstream facing port device (UFP device); transmit an instruction to asecond extension device of the plurality of extension devices to operateas a downstream facing port device (DFP device); and transmitinstructions to the first extension device and the second extensiondevice to pair with each other, such that a device coupled to a firstUSB Type-C port associated with the first extension device cancommunicate with a device coupled to a second USB Type-C port associatedwith the second extension device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary embodiment of aboardroom table system according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary embodiment of aboardroom table system according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 3A-3D are block diagrams that illustrate an exemplary embodimentof a boardroom table system according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure that addresses limits on cable length;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a boardroomtable system according to various aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a boardroomtable system according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Standards have been published that describe a universal serial bus (USB)Type-C connector, plug, and cable that can support communication via USB2.0, SuperSpeed, and DisplayPort via the same connector, includingconcurrent communication of at least some of these signals. USB 2.0communication can include low-speed, full-speed, and high-speedcommunication, and is described in detail at least in “Universal SerialBus Specification, Revision 2.0,” released on Apr. 27, 2000 by Compaq etal. SuperSpeed communication includes normal SuperSpeed communicationand Enhanced SuperSpeed communication. SuperSpeed communication isdescribed in detail at least in “Universal Serial Bus 3.1 Specification,Revision 1.0,” released on Jul. 26, 2013 by Hewlett-Packard Company etal. USB Type-C connectors, plugs, and cables are described in detail atleast in “Universal Serial Bus Type-C Cable and Connector Specification,Revision 1.1,” released on Apr. 3, 2015 by USB 3.0 Promoter Group. Powerdelivery over USB and the negotiation thereof is described in detail atleast in “Universal Serial Bus Power Delivery Specification, Revision2.0, Version 1.1,” released on May 7, 2015 by Hewlett-Packard Company etal. DisplayPort communication is described in detail at least in “VESADisplayPort Standard, Version 1.3,” released on Sep. 15, 2015, by VESA.Communication of DisplayPort information over a USB Type-C interface isdescribed in detail at least in the VESA DisplayPort Alt Mode Standard,Version 1, released on Sep. 22, 2014 by VESA. Each of these documentsand their contents are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, andare hereby incorporated by reference herein along with any earlierversions or related documents mentioned therein in their entireties forall purposes.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, boardroom table systemsare provided that include a plurality of USB Type-C receptacles that canprovide power and/or data transfer functionality to one or more devicesattached thereto. Power transferred by the boardroom table system mayinclude power from a wall wart or other wall power source, power from abattery, power from a USB Type-C device via USB Power Delivery, and/orfrom other sources as described below. Data transferred by the boardroomtable system may include be USB data; Ethernet data; video data such asDisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, and/or VGA; and/or any other type of datatransmittable via a USB Type-C receptacle.

In some embodiments, boardroom table systems also include presentationdevices either attached to the boardroom table system or incorporatedinto the boardroom table system. In such embodiments, a device coupledto a USB Type-C receptacle could both transmit or receive power andtransmit video to the presentation device via the same USB Type-Creceptacle of the boardroom table system, thus eliminating the need formultiple sockets and cables. The device may even transmit other datasuch as USB data or network data over the same receptacle, furtherreducing the number of receptacles and cables needed. In someembodiments, the USB Type-C receptacles of the boardroom table systemmay be selectively coupled to the presentation device, so that it is notnecessary to switch cables between devices to change presenters as isrequired by previous systems. In some embodiments, video and/or dataprotocol extension technology may be included with the boardroom tablesystem, so that the boardroom table system may support large tableswithout suffering from data transfer distance limits imposed by thevideo or data transfer protocols. Further descriptions of variousembodiments of the present disclosure are provided below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary embodiment of aboardroom table system according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The boardroom table system 100 includes a plurality of USBType-C receptacles, or “ports” 206, 210, 214, suitable for beingconnected to devices via compatible cables. In some embodiments, theports 206, 210, 214 may be located on a central mounting hub, which maybe configured in a protruding position to expose the ports 206, 210,214, or in a retracted position to present a relatively smooth tablesurface. In some embodiments, the ports 206, 210, 214 may be located inone or more recesses within the table, and may be hidden by a hinged orotherwise openable cover. In some embodiments, the ports 206, 210, 214may be positioned near a periphery of table or on the edge of the table.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the USB Type-C ports 106, 110,114 are upstream facing ports of associated USB hubs 108, 112, 116,respectively. The USB hubs 108, 112, 116 each have at least threedownstream facing ports. A first downstream facing port of each USB hub108, 112, 116 is connected to a power supply and distribution system102. A second downstream facing port of each USB hub 108, 112, 116 isconnected to a network dongle 120, 122, 124, respectively. A thirddownstream facing port of each USB hub 108, 112, 116 is connected to aswitching device 126. In some embodiments, each of these connections useUSB-standard cables and connectors, for ease of implementation andseamless support.

In some embodiments, the switching device 126 may be any suitablecircuitry to selectively couple one of the USB hubs 108, 112, 116 to avideo interface 128 and a downstream facing USB port 130. Suitablecircuitry may include but is not limited to an ASIC, a microcontroller,a physical switch, and/or the like. The video interface 128 may beanother USB Type-C port, in which case the switching device 126 maysimply make an electrical connection between the selected USB hub 108,112, 116 and the video interface 128 and allow the USB Type-Cfunctionality to negotiate a handshake to place the USB Type-C port inan appropriate alternate mode for transmitting video data to the videodisplay device 132. In some embodiments, the video interface 128 may bea legacy port such as DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, VGA, and/or the like. Insuch embodiments, the switching device 126 may include configurationchannel (CC) logic that can place the selected USB Type-C port 106, 110,114 in an appropriate alternate mode for transmitting video data to thevideo display device 132.

As with the video interface 128, the downstream facing USB port 130 maybe another USB Type-C port, in which case the switching device 126 maysimply make an electrical connection between the selected USB hub 108,112, 116 and the downstream facing USB port 130 and allow the USB Type-Cfunctionality to negotiate a handshake to place the USB Type-C port inan appropriate mode for transmitting USB information to the USB inputdevice 134. In some embodiments, the downstream facing USB port 130 maybe a legacy USB port (such as a Type-A port, a Type-B port, a mini-Aport, a mini-AB port, and/or the like). In such embodiments, theswitching device 126 may include CC logic to place the selected USBType-C port 106, 110, 114 in an appropriate mode for exchanging USBinformation with the USB input device 134. The USB information may beexchanged with the USB input device 134 using any USB communicationtechnique, including low speed, full speed, high speed, SuperSpeed,SuperSpeed+, or any other USB communication technique.

In some embodiments, the video display device 132 may be a large formatdisplay such as a projector or flat-screen monitor. In some embodiments,the USB input device 134 is a touch-sensitive panel, a gesturerecognition device, a mouse, a keyboard, a presentation clicker, oranother input device associated with the video display device 132. Insome embodiments, the video display device 132 and the USB input device134 may be combined into a single device, such as a large formattouchscreen or an interactive whiteboard. Such devices may be connectedvia separate legacy video interface 128 and downstream facing USB port130 adapters, or may be connected via a single USB Type-C receptaclethat serves as both the video interface 128 and the downstream facingUSB port 130.

As illustrated, the boardroom table system 100 also includes one or moreconfiguration interface devices 104. In illustrated embodiment, may beused simply to configure switching device and thereby decide which USBType-C port 106, 110, 114 is communicatively coupled to the videointerface 128 and the downstream facing USB port 130. In someembodiments, the configuration interface devices 104 could include oneor more mechanical switches. In some embodiments, the configurationinterface devices 104 could include a general purpose computing devicesuch as a tablet computing device, a smartphone computing device, alaptop computing device, a desktop computing device, and/or the like. Insome embodiments, the configuration interface devices 104 could includea special purpose computing device with an ASIC, a microcontroller,and/or the like having a display, a custom housing, and one or moreinput devices allowing configuration of the system. In some embodiments,the configuration interface devices 104 could include a computing devicecapable of network communication, and commands may be provided to theconfiguration interface devices 104 over a network by an applicationrunning on another computing device.

In some embodiments, the power supply and distribution system 102includes a computing device such as an ASIC, a microcontroller, or ageneral purpose computing device having a USB Power Delivery systempolicy manager as defined in the Universal Serial Bus Power DeliverySpecification incorporated above. In some embodiments, the power supplyand distribution system 102 may consider the capabilities and requestsacross the entire power delivery topology when determining how powershould be distributed, as described in commonly owned, co-pending U.S.application Ser. No. 15/004382, filed Jan. 22, 2016, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes. Each of the USB Type-C ports may include a USB Power Deliverypolicy engine. One type of policy engine is defined in the USB PowerDelivery Specification, though in some embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the policy engine may be enhanced with non-standardfunctionality. In some embodiments, the policy engines receiveinstructions from the power supply and distribution system 102 regardinghow power should be distributed.

In some embodiments, the power supply and distribution system 102 may beintegrated into one of the configuration interface devices 104. In someembodiments, power may be obtained by the power supply and distributionsystem 102 for delivery to the rest of the boardroom table system 100from an external source such as a wall wart, power-over-ethernet (PoE),an external battery, and/or some other source of power. The source ofexternal power is optional, as is indicated by the dashed line in theillustration. In some embodiments, the system policy manager of thepower supply and distribution system 102 may use USB power deliverynegotiation to obtain power from a device 136, 138, 140 connected to oneof the USB Type-C ports 106, 110, 114, and distribute that power to theother USB Type-C ports 106, 110, 114, and/or use that power to activatethe rest of the boardroom table system 100. In some embodiments, if thevideo interface 128 and/or the downstream facing USB port 130 areimplemented using a USB Type-C port, then the power supply anddistribution system 102 may obtain power from a connected video displaydevice 132 or USB input device 134. As understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art, the USB Power Delivery Specification explains how suchpower management may be established via communication over theconfiguration channel (CC) to configure the connected devices that areconnected, and so is not described in detail herein for the sake ofbrevity.

In some embodiments, instead of the power supply and distribution system102 being connected via a USB-standard cable to a downstream facing USBport of each USB hub 108, 112, 116, the power supply and distributionsystem 102 may be connected to a power input of each USB hub 108, 112,116, and power delivery logic within each USB hub 108, 112, 116 maymanage power delivery. In such embodiments, a system policy manager inone or more of the connected devices 136, 138, 140 may be used tocontrol power delivery instead of a system policy manager in the powersupply and distribution system 102.

In some embodiments, the network dongles 120, 122, 124 exchangeUSB-encapsulated network traffic from the USB Type-C ports 106, 110, 114as USB information. In some embodiments, the USB Type-C ports 106, 110,114 are configured in an alternate mode that supports networkcommunication in native format, and the network dongles 120, 122, 124exchange native network information with the USB Type-C ports 106, 110,114 and merely convert the traffic at the physical layer. FIG. 1illustrates the network dongles 120, 122, 124 as being communicativelycoupled to an Ethernet hub 118, but in some embodiments, the networkdongles 120, 122, 124 are connected to a different type of networkdevice including but not limited to an Ethernet switch, an Ethernetrouter, a wireless bridge, or another type of networking device. In someembodiments, the Ethernet hub 118 could be absent, and the networkdongles 120, 122, 124 could be configured to connect directly to awireless network such as a WiFi network, an LTE network, and/or thelike. By incorporating the network dongles 120, 122, 124 into theboardroom table system 100, the system provides power, networkconnectivity, and large-format presentation functionality to a givendevice via a single USB Type-C port.

In use, one or more devices 136, 138, 140 may be coupled to the USBType-C ports 106, 110, 114. The devices 136, 138, 140 would negotiatepower delivery with the system policy manager of the power supply anddistribution system 102, and may either receive power for charging ortransmit power to the boardroom table system 100 to power its componentsor others of the devices 136, 138, 140. The devices 136, 138, 140 wouldseamlessly detect connection to a network dongle 120, 122, 124, andcould use the associated dongle 120, 122, 124 to connect to a network.The configuration interface devices 104 could then be used to select oneof the USB Type-C ports 106, 110, 114, if any, to specify as thepresenting device. If, for example, the first USB Type-C port 106 ischosen, the configuration interface devices 104 would instruct theswitching device 126 to make the appropriate connection. Upon formingthe connection, the device 136 would detect connection of the videodisplay device 132 and the USB input device 134 and would use them todisplay and navigate its user interface. Thereafter, the configurationinterface devices 104 could change the configuration to specify, forexample, the Nth USB Type-C port 114 as the presenting device. Theconfiguration interface devices 104 would instruct the switching device126 to change the connections, the first device 136 would detect adisconnection of the video display device 132 and the USB input device134, and the new device 140 would detect connection of the video displaydevice 132 and the USB input device 134.

In some embodiments, the switching device 126 may have additionalfunctionality for interpreting/manipulating the video and/or USB data.For example, the switching device 126 may include functionality forscaling video data, and may be configured to provide scaled videoreceived from two or more devices connected to the USB Type-C ports 108,110, 114 to be presented on a single video display device 132. Asanother example, the switching device 126 may interpret the inputreceived by the USB input device 134, and may use that input to controlthe configuration of the boardroom table system 100 as if it came from aconfiguration interface device 104. In an example embodiment, thesefeatures may be combined by the switching device 126 dividing a videooutput on a touchscreen display into quadrants, and providing video fromtwo or more of the USB Type-C ports 108, 110, 114 in the quadrants.Thereafter, input received by the touchscreen is received by theswitching device 126, which detects a touched quadrant. The switchingdevice 126 may then alter the display to present a full-sized version ofthe video from the touched quadrant.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary embodiment of aboardroom table system according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. The boardroom table system 200 is similar to the boardroomtable system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, but the USB Type-C ports 206,210, 214 of the boardroom table system 200 in FIG. 2 are not upstreamfacing ports of USB hubs. Instead, the conductors of the USB Type-Cports 206, 210, 214 are coupled directly to the power supply anddistribution system 202, the network dongles 220, 222, 224, and theswitching device 226. Once connected, the devices 236, 238, 240 cannegotiate power delivery with the power supply and distribution system202, and detect the capabilities of the connected network dongles 220,222, 224, the video display device 232, and the USB input device 234 (ifconnected by the switching device 226) using USB-standard techniques. Ifthe video interface 228 and downstream facing USB port 230 are notprovided via a USB Type-C receptacle, the switching device 226 mayinclude active circuitry that allows the USB Type-C configurationhandshake to occur such that the devices 236, 238, 240 transmit theexpected signals over the expected conductors. Other details of theoperation of the boardroom table system 200 are similar to those in theboardroom table system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, and so are notrepeated here for the sake of brevity.

The embodiments described above are functional and provide benefits overexisting systems, but can also be further improved. For example,limitations of standard communication protocol lengths (such as limitson USB cable length and DisplayPort cable lengths outlined in therespective defining specifications) limit the size of a table that canbe equipped with the boardroom table systems described above,particularly if the USB Type-C ports are arranged around the peripheryof the table. FIGS. 3A-3D are block diagrams that illustrate anexemplary embodiment of a boardroom table system according to variousaspects of the present disclosure that addresses the limits on cablelength. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D include seamlessprotocol extension technology that allows greater distances between theUSB Type-C ports and the devices to which they are coupled, therebyallowing larger tables to be supported. As an explanatory note, FIGS.3A-3D all illustrate the same embodiments of a boardroom table system,but each diagram only illustrates some of the components in order toallow the illustrations to remain clear. One of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the features illustrated and described inrespect to FIGS. 3A-3D can be combined into a single embodiment of aboardroom table system.

Turning to FIG. 3A, each of the USB Type-C ports 306, 310, 316, 322 areassociated with extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320, respectively.Extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320 are connected to each other via anextension medium such as Ethernet, fiber optic cabling, and/or the like.The extension medium is not illustrated for the sake of clarity, but itallows the extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320 to be selectively pairedwith each other for communication at distances that may be greater thana distance defined in a USB or video communication standard. Asillustrated, the power supply and distribution system 302 may managepower delivery through the USB Type-C ports 306, 310, 316, 322 throughthe extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320. The delivery of power throughthe extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320 may occur over the extensionmedium, or may be via a separate power cable or network. Suitabletechniques for managing power delivery via extender devices and over anextension medium are described in commonly owned, co-pending U.S.application Ser. No. 15/004382, filed Jan. 22, 2016, the entiredisclosure of which was incorporated above by reference for allpurposes. The power supply and distribution system 302 may act as apower delivery system management device as described in the incorporateddisclosure.

In some embodiments, the power supply and distribution system 302 may becoupled directly to the USB Type-C ports 306, 310, 316, 322 withoutgoing through extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320, and extender devices308, 312, 314, 320 may be powered separately by the power supply anddistribution system 302 or by other devices as part of the USB PowerDelivery topology. If coupled directly to the USB Type-C ports 306, 310,316, 322, the power supply and distribution system 302 may operate in amanner similar to the power supply and distribution system 102illustrated and described above.

The boardroom table system 300 also includes an extension control device326. The extension control device 326 communicates via the extensionmedium to control configurations of the extender devices 308, 312, 314,320, and to control pairings between the extender devices 308, 312, 314,320 in order to reconfigure the USB Type-C port functionality andconnectivity. The extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320 are illustrated inFIG. 3A as “idle” because they are illustrated in an unpaired state, asdiscussed further below.

FIG. 3B illustrates connections between the USB Type-C ports 306, 310and the Ethernet hub 318 to provide network access for devices connectedto the USB Type-C ports 306, 310. As with the previously illustratedembodiments, though an Ethernet hub 318 is illustrated, a different typeof network device may be used including but not limited to an Ethernetswitch, an Ethernet router, a wireless bridge, or another type ofnetworking device. Unlike the previously illustrated embodiments, thenetwork dongles 307, 311, 315, 321 are either integrated into an ASIC ormicrocontroller that is providing the USB Type-C port functionality, orinto an ASIC or microcontroller that is providing the extender devicefunctionality, instead of being a separate device. Hence, no additionalconnection needs to be made between the USB Type-C ports and the networkdongles. This can be particularly useful in embodiments where Ethernetis used as the extension medium for connecting the extension devices308, 312, 316, 322, because no protocol conversion would be needed ifthe extension medium is connected to the Ethernet hub as well. Otherembodiments could use network dongles as illustrated above in thepreviously described embodiments.

FIG. 3C illustrates connection of a display and configuration of system300 accordingly to use the display. One benefit of coupling the USBType-C ports 306, 310, 316, 322 with extender devices 308, 312, 314, 320via an extension medium is that the USB Type-C ports 306, 310, 316, 322do not need to be permanently configured for any particular purpose. Forexample, while the embodiments illustrated and described above used adedicated video interface 128 and downstream facing USB port 130 coupledto a switching device 126, some embodiments of the boardroom tablesystem 300 allow any of the USB Type-C ports 306, 310, 316, 322 to beconfigured as the video interface. This can be useful in manysituations, including but not limited to providing a table that could berepositioned or rotated within a conference room without having toorient the table to ensure that a dedicated video port is appropriatelypositioned for display. Instead, whichever USB Type-C port is closest tothe ideal position may be configured to have the presentation displayattached. This may be particularly useful in embodiments wherein the USBType-C ports are located near the periphery of the table.

To establish the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3C, the configurationinterface devices 304 (which are similar to the configuration interfacedevices 104, 204 illustrated and discussed previously) receive an inputindicating that USB Type-C Port Three 316 should be used for thepresentation display, and that USB Type-C Port One 306 should beconnected to the display. The instruction is provided to the extensioncontrol device 326, which is an ASIC, a microcontroller, or othersuitable computing device capable of transmitting instructions to theextender devices 308, 312, 314, 320 via the extension medium. Aninstruction is sent by the extension control device 326 to extenderdevice 308 to be configured as an upstream facing port device (UFPdevice) for the extended transmission of video information via theextension medium, and an instruction is sent by the extension controldevice 326 to extender device 314 to be configured as a downstreamfacing port device (DFP device) for the extended transmission of videoinformation via the extension medium. Instructions are also sent by theextension control device 326 to extender device 308 and extender device314 to pair with each other, using network identifiers of the extenderdevices such as IP addresses, MAC addresses, or other suitable networkidentifiers.

Once configured as a UFP device and a DFP device and paired with eachother, the extender devices 308, 314 allow transparent videocommunication between the device 301 and the presentation display 305 asif the presentation display 305 was connected directly to the device301. The device 303 coupled to USB Type-C Port Two 310, which has anextender device 312 that remains in an idle state, will still be able tocommunicate with the network via the network dongle 311 and totransmit/receive power via the USB Type-C port 310, but will notcommunicate with the presentation device 305. Further details regardingselectively pairing extension devices over a network are available incommonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/791579,filed Mar. 8, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes. To transmit the videoinformation via the extension medium, the extender devices may use anysuitable technique, including but not limited to encapsulating the videoinformation in network packets such as IP packets; compression;compression and encapsulation; combining multiple DisplayPort lanes intoa single compressed packetized data stream before recovering theDisplayPort lanes on the far side of the extension medium, (includingsimilar techniques for HDMI and DVI); using high-speed SERDES devices;and/or the like. Some particular techniques for transmitting videoinformation via an extension medium are described in commonly owned U.S.Pat. No. 8,549,197, issued Oct. 1, 2013, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,566,482,issued Oct. 22, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein for all purposes. In some embodiments,USB information may be transmitted using the extension devices, whilevideo information is separately transmitted without requiring extensiontechnology via either a switching device as described above, or via amesh network that is configured by the extension control device 326 toallow the same level of configurability as the extension topologydiscussed above.

FIG. 3D shows a typical reconfiguration of the boardroom table system300 illustrated above. In FIG. 3D, the device 303 coupled to USB Type-CPort Two 310 is now configured to present video via the presentationdevice 305. To accomplish this, an instruction to change the videoenabled port is received by the configuration interface devices 304. Theextension control device 326 then transmits an instruction to theextender devices 308, 314 to drop their pairing with each other. Theextension control device 326 may also transmit an instruction to theextender device 308 of USB Type-C Port One 306 to enter an idle state.The extension control device 326 transmits an instruction to theextender device 312 to operate as a UFP device, and then transmitsinstructions to the extender device 312 and the extender device 314 topair with each other. Once the pairing is established, the device 303will be able to detect and exchange video information with thepresentation device 305 as discussed above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a boardroomtable system according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Theboardroom table system 400 may be the same or a similar embodiment asthat illustrated in FIG. 3C, in that the extender device 408 of USBType-C Port One 406 is paired with the extender device 414 of USB Type-CPort Three 416 for video presentation. However, the embodiment of theboardroom table system 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 also shows that theextender device 408 may be paired with more than one DFP device at once.As shown, the configuration interface devices 404 received aninstruction to create an additional pairing between the extender device408 and extender device 412 for the exchange of USB information via theextension medium. The extension control device 426 then transmitted aninstruction to the extender device 412 to operate as a DFP device, andtransmitted instructions to cause the extender device 408 and theextender device 412 to pair with each other. The extender device 408 mayalso cause capabilities to be renegotiated between USB Type-C Port One406 and the device 401, if the device 401 was not previously configuredto exchange USB information via USB Type-C Port One 406.

By doing this, device 401 can now communicate with a USB device 425coupled to USB Type-C Port Two 410, such as a USB storage device, a USBinput device, or any other type of USB device. The extension devices408, 412 are configured to compensate for any timing delays introducedby the extension medium, and so the USB communication between the device401 and the USB device 425 is as seamless as if the USB device 425 wereconnected to the device 401 via an entirely USB-compliant physicallayer. In some embodiments, separate pairings may be used for thetransmission of video data and the transmission of USB data.Accordingly, though only a presentation device 405 is shown, similartechniques may be used to pair the extender 408 to the extender 414 forUSB communication to allow communication with a USB input device that isalso coupled to USB Type-C Port Three 416.

Further details of techniques for how the extension devices 408, 412transmit USB communication via the extension medium are included incommonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,666, issued Apr. 30, 2002; U.S. Pat.No. 8,788,734, issued Jul. 22, 2014; U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,418, issuedJun. 2, 2015; U.S. Pat. No. 9,129,064, issued Sep. 8, 2015; and commonlyowned, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/791619, filed Mar. 8,2013; the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates an embodiment of a boardroomtable system according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Inthe illustrated embodiment of the boardroom table system 500, theconfiguration interface devices 504 include logic substantial enough toretrieve data from a USB device coupled to a USB Type-C port such as USBType-C Port Two 510, and to generate and transmit a video presentationbased on the data to a presentation device 505 coupled to another port516. The configuration interface devices 504 may include a laptopcomputing device, a desktop computing device, a tablet computing device,a custom form factor computing device, or any other suitable computingdevice. The configuration interface devices 504 are coupled to the restof the boardroom table system 500 by an extension device 503. In someembodiments, the configuration interface devices 504 may connect to theextension device 503 via a USB Type-C connection, such thatfunctionality of extension device 505 is highly similar to that of theother extension devices discussed above. Basically, this is a specialcase of the above embodiments, where instead of having all devicesremovable and connected to the boardroom table system 500 by removableUSB Type-C connections, one device or set of devices (the configurationinterface devices 504) is built into the table to provide presentationcapabilities even if only a USB storage device 525 is available.

Unless explicitly described otherwise, embodiments of the boardroomtable systems described above could be integrated into a table, usinghidden cable runs, layered construction, pop-up connectors or hubs,recessed connectors or hubs with access panels, covered or uncoveredtroughs, or the like. All embodiments could alternatively be packaged asan add-on to an existing table, wherein the electronic and cablingcomponents would be attached to an existing table using fasteners suchas screws, adhesives, clips, nails, and/or the like.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, itwill be appreciated that various changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, whilethe above embodiments may be illustrated with a given number of USBType-C ports, some embodiments may include more or fewer ports.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A method of selectivelycoupling USB Type-C ports of a plurality of USB Type-C ports integratedwith a table to a video interface, wherein each USB Type-C port is anupstream facing port of a USB hub, wherein a first downstream facingport of each USB hub is coupled to a switching device, and wherein asecond downstream facing port of each USB hub is coupled to a networkdongle, the method comprising: receiving, by the switching device froman interface device, a signal that indicates a first USB Type-C port ofthe plurality of USB Type-C ports to be coupled to the video interface;and coupling, by the switching device, the first downstream facing portof a USB hub associated with the first USB Type-C port to the videointerface.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video interface is aUSB Type-C port.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, by the switching device from an interface device, a signalthat indicates a second USB Type-C port of the plurality of USB Type-Cports to be coupled to a downstream facing USB port; and coupling, bythe switching device, the first downstream facing port of a USB hubassociated with the second USB Type-C port to the downstream facing USBport.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the USB Type-C ports are coupledto a power supply and distribution system.
 5. The method of claim 4,further comprising causing, by the power supply and distribution system,power to be provided from a wall power source or a battery to each ofthe USB Type-C ports.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprisingcausing, by the power supply and distribution system, power to bedelivered from a device coupled to one of the USB Type-C ports to one ormore of the other USB Type-C ports.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe video interface is a DisplayPort port, an HDMI port, a DVI port, ora VGA port.
 8. A method of selectively pairing USB Type-C ports of aplurality of USB Type-C ports integrated with a table, wherein each USBType-C port is associated with an extension device of a plurality ofextension devices coupled to an extension medium, the method comprising:transmitting, by an extension control device, an instruction to a firstextension device of the plurality of extension devices to operate as anupstream facing port device (UFP device); transmitting, by the extensioncontrol device, an instruction to a second extension device of theplurality of extension devices to operate as a downstream facing portdevice (DFP device); and transmitting, by the extension control device,instructions to the first extension device and the second extensiondevice to pair with each other, such that a device coupled to a firstUSB Type-C port associated with the first extension device cancommunicate with a device coupled to a second USB Type-C port associatedwith the second extension device.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising transmitting, by the extension control device, configurationinstructions to the first extension device and the second extensiondevice, wherein the configuration instructions include types of signalsto be communicated via particular pins of the associated USB Type-Cports.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: transmitting, bythe extension control device, an instruction to a third extension deviceof the plurality of extension devices to operate as a UFP device;transmitting, by the extension control device, an instruction to thesecond extension device to remove its pairing with the first extensiondevice; and transmitting, by the extension control device, instructionsto the second extension device and the third extension device to pairwith each other, such that a device coupled to the first USB Type-C portassociated with the first extension device can communicate with a devicecoupled to a third USB Type-C port associated with the third extensiondevice.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: transmitting, bythe extension control device, an instruction to a fourth extensiondevice of the plurality of extension devices to operate as a DFP device;and transmitting, by the extension control device, instructions to thefirst extension device and the fourth extension device to pair with eachother.
 12. A switching device for selectively coupling USB Type-C portsof a plurality of USB Type-C ports integrated with a table to a videointerface, wherein each USB Type-C port is an upstream facing port of aUSB hub, wherein a first downstream facing port of each USB hub iscoupled to the switching device, wherein a second downstream facing portof each USB hub is coupled to a network dongle, and wherein theswitching device is configured to: receive, by the switching device froman interface device, a signal that indicates a first USB Type-C port ofthe plurality of USB Type-C ports to be coupled to the video interface;and couple, by the switching device, the first downstream facing port ofa USB hub associated with the first USB Type-C port to the videointerface.
 13. The switching device of claim 12, wherein the videointerface is a USB Type-C port.
 14. The switching device of claim 12,wherein the video interface is a DisplayPort port, an HDMI port, a DVIport, or a VGA port.
 15. The switching device of claim 12, furtherconfigured to: receive, by the switching device from an interfacedevice, a signal that indicates a second USB Type-C port of theplurality of USB Type-C ports to be coupled to a downstream facing USBport; and couple, by the switching device, the first downstream facingport of a USB hub associated with the second USB Type-C port to thedownstream facing USB port.
 16. The switching device of claim 12,wherein the USB Type-C ports are coupled to a power supply anddistribution system.